Brussels, 10/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 6 July the European Commission adopted the formal proposal on the new partnership agreement in the fisheries sector between the EU and the Republic of Cape Verde. The parties reached an agreement at the end of December 2005 (EUROPE 9099). The agreement should enter into force on 1 September 2006 for five years.
In return, the EU will pay the Cape Verde authorities €385,000 annually and 80% of this envelope will help development of the sectoral fisheries policy in Cape Verde. Community Ship-owners fees could create additional annual income of around €243,450 for the Cape Verde.
The protocol sets out a reference tonnage of 5000 tonnes of tuna per year. Fishing opportunities among the Member States is divided up as follows: surface longliners (41 for Spain and 7 for Portugal), freezer tuna seiners (12 Spanish boats and 13 French) pole and line tuna vessels (7 Spanish and 4 French). During the agreement, the EU and Cape Verde will have to closely monitor resources in the fishing zone used. The parties will also encourage the exchange of information on techniques and fishing gear, conservation methods and industrial fishing product processing techniques.